Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10463, James Ferry, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Ferry James
R. 10463
CONTENTS
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State of Connecticut } Special Probate Court December County of Tolland } 3 rd D. A. 1838
At a special Court of Probate held at the now dwelling house of James Herry Jr in in Stafford within the Probate district of Stafford in the County of Tolland State of Connecticut on the 3 rd day of December 1838 (James Herry senior, Father of the said James Herry Jr in now resides in the house with him Son the said James Herry Jr in and the said James Herry senior by reason of his great age and bodily infirmity is unable to travel to Court) and on said 3 rd day of December 1838 personally appeared in said special court before Rodolphus Woodworth Esq. Judge of Probate for the district of Stafford holding said special court of Probate for said district, now sitting, the same being a Court of Record. James Herry senior of Stafford, in the County of Tolland, in the State of Connecticut, aged ninety seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, that according to the best of my memory at this time (which is not very good in consequence of my great age & infirmities) I enlisted or was drafted (and which I cannot now say) into the service of the United States, in the State troops so called, under the following named officers and circumstances and served as herein stated, that according to the best of my recollection at this time I enlisted as a private soldier (or was drafted & which I cannot now say) at the town of Wilbraham (now then the County of Hampshire) in the State of Massachusetts some time in May or June 1775 for the term of eight months under Capt. Thomas Steele (as I now think) of Springfield, (then in the County of Hampshire) in the State of Massachusetts, who was (as I think at the present time) Captain of the company in which I served, said eight months, and Eleazer Goodell or Daniel Goodell of said town of Wilbraham was one of the Lieutenants of said company, the names of the other officers of said company not now recollected, I cannot at this time with any degree of certainty recollect the name of the Col l of the Regiment to which I belonged, it might have been Donalston or Danielson, and said Regiment might have belonged to

General Ward's Brigade, but I cannot at this time with any degree of certainty state concerning the officers of the Regiment & Brigade to which I belonged as my memory has much failed me within a few years past - and soon after my said enlistment or draft as aforesaid, I was marched from said town of Wilbraham in the said Capt. Thomas Stebbins said company (as I now think) through the towns of Brookfield, Worcester &c to the town of Roxbury, near Boston, Massachusetts, where I remained, quartered (as I think) in the said Capt. Stebbins said company at said Roxbury, the term of eight months from the time that I was marched from said town of Wilbraham - I know that I served eight months at least in said company at said Roxbury - I was not in any battle during said eight months that I was quartered at said Roxbury as aforesaid, and the fore part of said eight months service at said Roxbury I served as a cook or waiter for the officers of said Capt. Stebbins said company, and the latter part of said eight months service I served as a Drummer in said Capt. Stebbins said company. I cannot now recollect how much of said eight months service I served as a Drummer in said company, it might have have been half of said eight months or more, I had a Brother Charles Herry (who is now dead) at said Roxbury at the same time with me, he was a Drummer , and also a Drum Major in the army at said Roxbury while I was there, and my said Brother Charles Herry gave me his own Drum at said Roxbury which I there used, and brought it home with me to said Wilbraham from said Roxbury when my said eight months service had expired - and at the expiration of said eight months service as aforesaid I was discharged and returned to said town of Wilbraham (as I now think) the latter part of the winter or the forepart of the spring 1776 - and in answer to the Interrogatories put by the Court as prescribed by the War Department, I declare and say that I was born in the town of Springfield (now in the County of Hampshire) in the State of Massachusetts on the 19 day July 1748 where I lived in the family of my Father until about the year 1764 when I removed with my Father's family to said town of Wilbraham, where I lived and resided until May 1770 when I removed with my own family from

said town of Willbraham to the town of Stafford, in the County of Tolland, in the State of Connecticut, where I have ever since and do now live and reside, my age is recorded in the Register's office in the town of Springfield, in the County of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, I received a written discharge when I left the service at said Providence, but it has been lost - that I served under an enlistment (or draft) for said eight months when I was in the service as aforesaid, I have not been able to obtain neither do I know of any person now living whose testimony I can obtain to prove my said eight months service in the army at said Providence - I have no documentary evidence - and the evidence which I shall obtain I shall transmit with this my declaration, I do not now remember any more of the officers or Regiments or circumstances of my service than what I have heretofore stated in this my declaration, and I know of no evidence except what I have obtained, which I shall transmit herewith to the War Department - and I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. I am known to Jasper Hyde, Alvin Hyde, Josiah Converse, Ezra Tyler, Eliab A. Converse, William Price and David Brachwell of said Stafford who can testify to my character for veracity, and their belief of my services as a soldier in the Revolutionary War - Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  In presence of - Rodolphus Woodworth John Tenny  James Herry (senior) mark
We Jasper Hyde and Alvin Hyde both of Stafford, in the County of Tolland, in the State of Connecticut, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Herry (senior) of said town of Stafford, who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration, that we believe him to be ninety seven years of age, that he is a man of veracity, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion -  Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid { Jasper Hyde Alvan Hyde

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jasper Hyde and Alvin Hyde Esqs who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the town of Stafford, in the County of Tolland, in the State of Connecticut, and both reside in the neighborhood of said applicant, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit — and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the clergymen in said town of Stafford have been settled in said town within two or three years past, that they are not particularly acquainted with the said James Herry senior said applicant, and know nothing of his reputed services as a soldier in the Revolution — The words (who have signed the preceding certificate) were interlined by me XXXXX the XXXXX of XXXXX — and also the words "service" on the last page of said declaration (certified by Rodolphus Woodward and also the words "in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut and of Probate" on the first page of said Declaration were interlined by me before the applicant signed y s declaration.)  Judge of Probate for Stafford District —

James Herry Jr. of Stafford, in the county of Tolland, in the State of Connecticut, aged Sixty seven years, (Son of James Herry senior of said Stafford) testify and say that I was born in the town of Wilbraham, then in the county of Hampshire, now in Franklin county in the State of Massachusetts, that ever since I was about 14 or 15 years old up to the present time; I have heard my Father the said James Herry senior state to me and others, that he was in the service of the Revolutionary War at Roxbury near Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, in the year 1775 - and that he enlisted or was drafted and which I do not now remember, I think he told me and others that he served in Capt. Stebbins company at said Roxbury. If I rightly remembered he has always stated that the name of his Capt. was Thomas Stebbins, and that the name of one of the Lieutenants of said Capt. Stebbins company was Eleazer Cadwell or Daniel Cadwell; I do not now recollect the names of any other officers that I have heard him mention. I have heard him formerly when sound in body and mind give a particular account to me that he went into the service in the army at said Roxbury soon after the alarm or battle at Lexington in April 1775 - and that he staid in the army at said Roxbury at the urgent solicitation of his officers for a longer period than than that for which he enlisted (or was drafted) I think he stated about one month longer. I have often heard my Father the said James Herry senior say that when he left the army at said Roxbury and returned to said Wilbraham in the spring of the year 1776 the roads were at that time pretty well settled and the travelling very good. I know that my said Father was a Drummer and has kept a Drum ever since my recollection (untill about twenty years past) and taught several young men the art of drumming. I have often heard my said Father say that the forepart of the time that he was in the service in the army at said Roxbury he served as a waiter or cook for the officers of said Capt. Stebbins said company, and that the latter part of the time he

was appointed, and served as a Drummer for said Capt. Stebbins said company, and I have often heard my said Father say that his brother Charles Ferry was a Drummer at said Roxbury, and taught my said Father the art of drumming, and that the said Charles Ferry (as my Father said) was appointed a Drum Major at said Roxbury in the army, and gave up his Drum to my Father, I have lived in said Stafford ever since my Father removed from said Willimantic to said Stafford, for seven years past my Father has lived in my own family, I further say that I have been to Willimantic and cannot find any person living in the neighborhood at that place where my Father resided who can testify to his reputed services as a soldier of the Revolution - I have often heard my Father the said James Ferry senior state how he saw a soldier whipt at said Roxbury, after which he was drummed out of camp, and that his said brother Charles Ferry was then Drum Major, and my said Father a Drummer, and that both were present on that occasion, and I believe that it is and has been the general opinion of the people in the neighborhood where my said Father now lives in said Stafford that he was soldier in the Revolution - Stafford Decr 5 1838 -
James Ferry Jr.
State of Connecticut } County of Tolland } ss Stafford December 5 th 1838 -
Personally appeared James Ferry Jr. who has subscribed and sworn to the above Deposition, and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein stated by him - I also certify that for thirty six years last past I have been well acquainted with the said James Ferry Jr. he sustains a fair character for truth & veracity, and his testimony is entitled to credit - Sworn before me Rodolphus Woodworth Justice Peace for Tolland County -
State of Connecticut } County of Tolland } ss County Clerk's Office
I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of the County of Tolland do hereby certify that Rodolphus Woodworth Esq. of Stafford is a Justice of Peace within said County legally appointed and qualified and hereby certify that his commission bears date the 26. day of May A.D. 1838 and will continue until the 20 th day of June 1839 - That the signature to the above certificate pur- porting to be of Justice Woodworth his official signature is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name & seal of office at said Tolland this 11 th day of December A.D. 1838
Jeremiah Parish Clerk

Let. to Hon. O. Holt, July 6, 1839.
10465

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
10463 Con
P. O.
James Ferry
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

I Francis R. Woodworth Clerk of the court of Probate for the district of Stafford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of James Ferry Senior for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 3 rd day of December A D 1838.
Francis R. Woodworth Clerk.

34.696 James Terry
born:
at T. June 32

I Rodolphus Woodworth of Stafford, in the County of Tolland, in the State of Connecticut, Judge of Probate for the District of Stafford, in said County of Tolland, and Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Tolland, and also Postmaster at Stafford Springs at aged fifty nine years, testify and say that for thirty five years last past I have been well acquainted with James Ferry senior of said Town of Stafford, who has made application for a pension on account of his military services in the War of the Revolution, — The said James Ferry senior ever since my acquaintance with him has sustained an unblemished character for truth and veracity, and has been a very honest and industrious man, he was without doubt ninety seven years old July last past, he has many bodily infirmities, and is now very deaf, which renders it very difficult to converse with him, his memory has failed very much within a few years past, In the neighborhood in which the said James Ferry senior has resided ever since he lived in said Stafford he has been reputed as having served as a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and that reputation I think has been general in that part of the town and neighborhood where he has resided in said Stafford, his eye sight is tolerably good for a man of his advanced age, I saw him within two or three days past and he recognized me immediately — Stafford December 6 th 1838 — It is my opinion that he was a soldier in the War of the Revolution —
State of Connecticut } County of Tolland } to Stafford Dec r 6 th A D 1838 — Personally appeared Rodolphus Woodworth Esq., of said Stafford, who has subscribed to the above Deposition, and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein stated — I also certify that the said Rodolphus Woodworth is a credible witness — the words "and sworn" were erased before signing — Certified by Lina Winter Just ice Peace } Sworn before me Lina Winter Just ice Peace

State of Connecticut County of Tolland } for County Clerks office
I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of the County in sd County, Certify, that Tina Winter — Esq. of Stafford is a Justice of Peace within sd Tolland County duly appointed and acting in sd capacity — That his Commission bears date the 26 th day of May A D 1838 and will continue until the 20 th day of June 1839 also that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be the official signature signature of said Justice Winter — is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- scribed my name & affixed my official seal this 11 th day of December A D 1838
Jeremiah Parish Clerk

Stafford Springs Ct Dec r 13 th 1838-
Hon. J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions, I transmit herewith to you the application of James Perry senior of said Stafford for a Pension, he was 95 years old last July, and is now very old and infirm, & his memory somewhat impaired, he does not now recollect the name of the Col of the Regiment in which he served, I hope Sir that a thorough search will be made at the Department to find the name of the said James Perry, as I am well satisfied from my long acquaintance with the old man, and his well known char- acter for veracity, that he served at Roxbury (Mass) in the War of the Revolution, I hope Sir that you will give said application an early investiga- tion, and that you will make due allowance for the advanced age and infirmities of said applicant, and that you will grant his application if you become satisfied that he served as he has stated, If his application should be granted you will please to transmit his certificate by mail to me, at Stafford Springs, Tolland County, Connecticut, I am Sir very Respectfully your Obedient Servant Rodolphus Woodward

House of Reps
Jan y 23 rd 1839
Sir
The Hon R Woodworth informed me several weeks since that he has transmitted to your Dept the application of James Ferry, of Stafford, Connecticut, praying for a pension. Some five years, since when I was Judge of Probate for the District of Tolland application was made to me to prepare his case, my advice at that time was to search for further evidence, although I have never had any doubt as to the merit of this claim, I thought it advisable to get all the evidence he possibly could in order to place the matter beyond a doubt. His son has informed me subsequently that he has traveled a great distance and as yet has not been able to find any thing but circumstantial evidence.
The family are a very respectable family and entitled to full credit as to truth. I have been informed by them and the inhabitants of Stafford in Mr S neighborhood that it was always understood that Mr S rendered several months service in the revolution as a drummer enough to entitle him to a small pension. Knowing the family personally

as I do I can assure the Dept. that nothing unproper would knowingly be requested by them I hope therefore that the case may receive the favorable action of your Dept.
I am with respect yours Oblt Servant
Orville H. Smith
Hon J. L. Gower Commissioner of Patents Washington D. C.
N.B. I write this to show a true state of facts connected with Mr. T. Clancey and to show that I might have presented an earlier application and for the purpose of doing away any objection that might arise in consequence of delay.
Yours
O. H. Smith

Act of June 7. 1832.
James Ferry.
(born.)
Power of Atty.
To examine claim
Notes
Chas. B. Tucker. Atty. Present.

Power of Attorney.
Know all men by these presents, that James Ferry of Stafford County of Tolland State of Connecticut son of James Ferry a Revolutionary Soldier since dead do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint CHAS. C. TUCKER, of Washington City, D. C. my true and lawful Agent and Attorney to prosecute the Claim of James Ferry for any amount of Revolutionary Pension or increase of Pension that may be due under the provisions of the Act of June 7. 1832. or any other Act or Resolution of Congress, and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers and documents in relation to said Claim on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, and to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed: and to do all things that I might or could do, were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney may lawfully do in the premises. Also hereby revoking & annulling all powers of Attorney heretofore by me executed & especially one given to Allen Mead of Mansfield Aug 23 d 1845 dated 14 th of
Attorney heretofore by me executed & especially one given to Allen Mead of Mansfield Aug 23 d 1845 dated 14 th of January 1852
Witness my hand and seal this 8 th day of February 1853.
In presence of
Lina Winters James Ferry Jr.
} James Ferry
STATE OF Connecticut Tolland COUNTY—ss. Stafford
On this Eight day of February 1853, before me a Notary Public in and for the County and State above mentioned personally appeared James Ferry and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be his free act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.
Lina Winters Notary Public
STATE OF Connecticut } ss. Stafford Tolland COUNTY.
On this Eight day of February 1853, before me the undersigned a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared James Ferry a resident of said County, and made oath according to law that he is the identical James Ferry who executed the foregoing power of Attorney, and that he is directly interested in said Claim, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my said Attorney may use in prosecuting said Claim.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written.
Lina Winters Notary Public
STATE OF } COUNTY OF }
I Clerk of do hereby certify that Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavit and acknowledgment were made and who has thereunto signed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my official seal this day of 1853.

I Amasa Fuller of Stafford, in the County of Tolland in the State of Connecticut, aged fifty seven years, testify and say that during the winters of 1798 and 1799 I lived and resided in the family of James Ferry senior in said Stafford, and attended school during said two winters in the school District in which the said James Ferry senior then lived, and during said two winters the said James Ferry senior taught me the art of drumming on a Drum, he was called an excellent drummer at that time, he said that his brother Charles Ferry taught him the art of drumming or to beat on a drum. The said James Ferry senior then told me that he served in the army at Roxbury (Mass) as a drummer in the year 1775 or 1776 (I cannot say certain which year) he told me that Captain Stetson was his captain, (his christian name not now recollected by me) and that his said brother Charles Ferry was a Drum Major in the army at said Roxbury at the same time, that he, the said James Ferry senior was there, during said two winters in the evenings the said James Ferry senior would frequently beat the firings as he called them on his Drum, in the same manner as he said they were performed in the army at said Roxbury while he was there, as a drummer, I well know that the said James Ferry senior is reputed in the neighborhood where he has resided in said Stafford as having been a soldier in the Revolution, and that reputation is general in that part of the town in which the said Ferry (senior) has lived since he came to said Stafford, I have lived forty years of my life in the same neighborhood of the said James Ferry senior in said Stafford, I never had any doubt in my own mind but that the said James Ferry senior was in the army at said Roxbury as a drummer, as he always so stated, and I never heard it disputed by any person — The said James Ferry senior has always sustained the character of an honest and upright man and a person of truth and veracity — Stafford Dec 7 1838 Amasa Fuller
The words frequently interlined by
me before signing — certified by Rodolphus Woodworth Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut { Stafford December 7th 1838 — County of Tolland
Then personally appeared Amasa Fuller of said Stafford who has subscribed the above Deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein stated by him — I also certify that for thirty six years last past I have been well acquainted with the said Amasa Fuller he sustains a fair character for truth and veracity and his testimony is entitled to credit — Sworn before me Rodolphus Woodworth Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut County of Tolland } for County Clerk's office
I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of the County in Tolland County, certify that Rollofphus Woodworth Esq. of Stafford is a Justice of Peace within the County of Tolland duly appointed & acting in that capacity - that his Commission bears date the 26 th day of May 1838 and will continue until the 29 th day of June AD 1839 - also that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be the official signature of the Justice Woodworth is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name & affixed my official seal at Tolland this 11 th day of December 1838
Jeremiah Parish Clerk